Page 99 of Free to Dream
“Thank you for always giving me your light.”
“Thank you for your smile in the morning.”
“Thank you for your arms at night.”
“Thank you for your strength when I need it.”
“Thank you for your courage.”
“Thank you for your heart every minute of every day. I promise to cherish it for the rest of our lives.”
By the time Caleb finishes, I can’t see his face any longer. I’m a wreck. I reach under my veil to wipe my eyes when I hear Em hiss again, “Dab!” as she shoves a tissue over my shoulder. I try to recover some of my makeup as I dab it with the tissue. I want to memorize the expression on Caleb’s face. His eyes are shiny from his unshed tears and full of love, but his lips are quirked up in a cocky grin, questioning me on how he did.
I know I can beat it.
Charlie’s voice booms out next to us. “Sweet Jesus, boy. You had me tearing up. Cassidy, you able to talk yet, girl?” I nod. “You ready?” I take a deep breath and look into Caleb’s loving eyes.
I’m so ready.
I bring his hand to my mouth and kiss it through the veil. “Caleb, when you walked into my office, I was disappointed for the first time ever in a client. I didn’t want you to be the groom.” Everyone laughs. “There was a spark between us, but after the stunt you pulled that first day, I’d be damned if I’d admit to it. By the way, does this mean I’m technically marrying Ryan and Jared too?” The screaming laughter from everyone stops the ceremony for a few minutes.
Caleb just shakes his head, laughing. When everyone calms down, Caleb says to me, “You ready to continue?” I grin at him and nod.
“It wasn’t easy falling in love with you because we had to fight so many demons along the way.” He squeezes my hands and I squeeze back. “I always knew we’d come out on top because after a while, I wasn’t worried. I had faith in us.” I take a deep breath. “And if it’s a girl, I think that’s what her name should be.”
I can hear wave after wave of gasps across our small group.
I hadn’t told anyone what I suspected.
Caleb visibly staggers. Ryan puts his arms out to catch his brother in the event he falls. “What? You’re…we’re…?” He can’t even form a coherent sentence.
I nod frantically and quickly rush out with, “I know we didn’t plan for this, but…”
His mouth hanging open, and then I see it.
The joy in his eyes.
Right before he drops to his knees and wraps his arms around my waist. His head lands in the region of my stomach and I hold him tight.
I look blindly past Ryan’s face, which has a huge grin on it, into that of Keene’s. My brother by blood. His eyes are wet as well, his hand in a fist over his heart. I smile.
Behind him stands Jason, and while he’s smiling, I can see he’s scanning me like the doctor he is.
My eyes lock with Phil’s. The boy who turned into a man between one heartbeat and the next. The brother of my heart who saved mine. His hand is over his mouth and the tears are flowing over it.
Suddenly, I’m airborne as Caleb is swinging me around in his arms. “Oh God, I love you.”
He starts to make his way down the aisle. I swat at him. “Caleb!”
“What?” His face is alight with joy. I know he’s ready to give me the world.
All I want is the rest of my wedding.
“How about we let Charlie finish? Then you can carry me down the aisle?” I demand.
He bellows out a laugh before turning and putting me back down at the altar. “Charlie! Let’s wrap this up! We have a lot to celebrate!”
“Apparently so,” Charlie drawls, coming up to us again. Before he says anything else to finish the ceremony, he leans forward and kisses me on the cheek. “Congratulations, beautiful. You’ll make a great Mommy. You’ve already had a lot of practice.” He nods toward my sisters.
